Stacking Dell PowerConnect Switches: 8132, 8132F, 8164, 8164F 
51 
 
Managing the standby unit 
If the Master unit fails or is taken offline, a Standby unit automatically takes place as Master.  During 
this time there is no more than a 50 ms interruption in unicast connectivity.  
The commands below are used to manage your Standy unit. 
Command-line interface method 
To find out which unit is currently in Standby status, run the show switch command. 
 
console#show switch 
 
    Management Standby   Preconfig  Plugged-in    Switch     Code 
SW  Status     Status    Model ID   Model ID      Status     Version 
--- ---------- --------- ---------- ------------- ---------- --------- 
1   Mgmt Sw         PCT8164F   PCT8164F      OK         5.0.0.3 
2   Stack Mbr  Oper Stby PCT8132F   PCT8132F      OK         5.0.0.3 
3   Stack Mbr            PCT8132F   PCT8132F      OK         5.0.0.3 
 
The Standby Status column shows which unit is in Standby mode.  There are two standby modes:  Oper 
Stby and Cfg Stby.   Oper Stby is selected automatically by the Master during stack creation.  If the 
administrator decides to select a different unit to be Standby, then it is labeled Cfg Stby.  Both 
Standby modes work identically.   
In this example, unit 2 is the stack standby for the Master unit. To change the standby to a different 
unit, use the standby x command.  Verify the change with the show switch command. 
 
console(config-stack)#standby 3 
 
console#show switch 
 
    Management Standby   Preconfig  Plugged-in    Switch     Code 
SW  Status     Status    Model ID   Model ID      Status     Version 
--- ---------- --------- ---------- ------------- ---------- --------- 
1   Mgmt Sw         PCT8164F   PCT8164F      OK         5.0.0.3 
2   Stack Mbr            PCT8132F   PCT8132F      OK         5.0.0.3 
3   Stack Mbr  Oper Stby PCT8132F   PCT8132F      OK         5.0.0.3 
 
This method cannot be used to assign the current Stack Master to the Standby role and results in an 
error. In the event there is a need to change the role of the Master or make the Standby the Master, 
use the initiate failover command from the Command Line Interface.  This command results in a 
warm restart of the stack Master, triggering the Standby unit to take over as a new Master switch.  
 
console(config)#stack 
 
console(config-stack)#initiate failover 
 
The system has unsaved changes.